Our Stories

really old skates

Percy Johnston: A Life on Ice

1903–1988 Pine Hills Cemetery Section 8 Lot 975 Henry “Percy” Johnston was born with winter in his veins. In the late 1920s, when frozen lakes and
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Brick building

William James McBain: Architect of Modern Ontario

sepia image of black man in uniform

Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott: Canada’s First Black Physician and Civil Rights Advocate

a big building with brick and stone

Henry Langley: A Lasting Heritage in Toronto

Alexander Muir

Alexander Muir: The Man Behind “The Maple Leaf Forever”

Snow‑covered cemetery landscape with an upright headstone in the foreground bearing the name “Clark Heweston.” The stone is surrounded by trees and additional grave markers, with evergreen and bare branches visible in winter light

Rosa and Spencer Clark: Preserving Beauty in a Changing City

man playing piano

Glenn Gould: The Pianist Who Redefined Classical Music

Two performers stand on an outdoor stage; one is singing into a microphone with an arm raised, while the other plays an acoustic guitar beside an additional microphone stand. A canopy and metal stage scaffolding are visible overhead against a sunny sky.

Lois Lilienstein: A Legacy of Joy

two plaques with text

Thornton and Lucie Blackburn: Toronto’s First Taxi and Champions of Freedom

very old car in black and white

William James “Bill” Neal: Richmond Hill’s First Mayor and Automotive Visionary

Weathered gray stone grave marker with an arched top, partially obscured by pine tree branches, standing in a snowy cemetery; the engraved inscription is faint and difficult to read.

Following the Robinson Family History from Potter’s Field to Mount Pleasant

houses and trees with brown grass

Benefit Society Oshchima: A Lifeline for Early Immigrants

St. Andrew’s Society Cairn, a tall stone obelisk rising from a circular base of stacked grey stones with an inscribed plaque, set on a grassy slope and framed by mature trees beneath a clear blue sky.

St. Andrew’s Society Cairn: A Monument to Scottish Heritage

Snow‑covered cemetery scene with several headstones partially buried in snow. A central grave marker in the foreground bears the name “Haddad,” with surrounding trees and residential houses visible in the background during winter.

Claire Haddad: Redefining Canadian Fashion

old building in black and white

Leonard Pears: Building Toronto’s Yellow Brick Road

gallows of the Don Jail with plaque

Arthur Lucas and Ronald Turpin: Canada’s Last Executions

A black‑and‑white exterior view of the Addictions Research Foundation where Eleanor worked as a therapist. It is a mid‑century institutional building with a concrete façade and rows of rectangular windows, set back from a city street with bare trees and low shrubs in the foreground. The photo was taken in the 1990s.

Dr. Eleanor “Anne” Barrington: A Pioneer in Medicine

Black‑and‑white photograph of John M. Lyle standing in front of a large sculptural relief, wearing a suit and tie and holding carving tools in his hands, suggesting an artist or architectural studio setting.

John M. Lyle: Architect of a Canadian Identity

Colour portrait of a person shown from the shoulders up, with light, curly hair against a softly textured, warm‑toned background. The image has a grainy, archival appearance.

Annie “Nance” Horwood: Brampton’s First Female Mayor and Tireless Community Advocate

Formal portrait of a person wearing a light‑coloured suit and striped tie, with a military or service medal pinned to the left lapel. The photograph appears to be taken indoors, with window blinds and seated figures visible in the softly lit background.

Borivoje "Bora" Dragasevich: A Life of Courage, Community and Legacy

Tim Horton wearing a vintage Toronto Maple Leafs jersey poses in front of a solid blue background. The player is shown from the waist up, dressed in a blue sweater with a large white maple leaf logo and lace-up collar.

Tim Horton: Hockey Legend and Coffee Icon